Onaway-sheriff pact agreed to in concept

Wednesday

May 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM

A draft of the agreement for Onaway police coverage with the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department has been approved of in concept by the Onaway City Commission, although the amount that will be paid has not been agreed upon.

By Shawna Jankoviakshawna@cheboygantribune.com

A draft of the agreement for Onaway police coverage with the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department has been approved of in concept by the Onaway City Commission, although the amount that will be paid has not been agreed upon.The panel made the motion to approve the concept, but not the dollar figure, included in the agreement at its regular meeting Monday. The agreement was drafted and proposed by City Manager Joe Hefele, and had been reviewed by the city attorney.“I have provided a copy to the sheriff and will be meeting with the sheriff and undersheriff to discuss it next week,” Hefele reported to the City Commission. “I believe we agree in principal on the terms and will be discussing the dollar figure and hours.”The agreement guarantees a minimum of 16 hours of nighttime patrol per week between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m., in addition to the routine patrol and investigation the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department would provide Onaway. In the agreement Hefele proposed, the city would pay the county $25,000 during the term of the agreement in quarterly installments of $6,250, with the first installment due three months after the effective date of this agreement.According to Hefele, the City Commission felt the dollar figure was too high for that amount of hours. However, he said he has every expectation that all involved will come to an agreement.Hefele said his hope is to present something to the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners at its May 31 meeting. The agreement would begin July 1, which is the first day of the county’s 2013-2014 fiscal year.“This gives us a month to work out any kinks in the agreement,” Hefele reported. “I would ask for a motion approving the language, which lets the sheriff and undersheriff know you support it.”Hefele noted the agreement is for one year, which will allow the city to assess how things are working.“I anticipate reviewing things as we get into our next planning and budget workshop in January,” Hefele said.Hefele has said the City of Onaway would continue to make its police building available to the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department through the proposed scenerio. The building cost, including utilities and property insurance, is approximately $5,000 per year. So the total cost to the city would be approximately $30,000 per year, which is $45,000 to $50,000 less than what the city had been spending on the one-man Onaway Police Department, Hefele has said. The city would have no overtime, payroll tax, unemployment insurance, worker’s comp insurance, liability insurance, gasoline or equipment expenses that it has paid in the past.“Obviously, this would go a long way toward plugging the large general fund budget deficit ($50,000 to $60,000 per year) caused by an $80,000 reduction in property tax revenue and revenue sharing,” Hefele has said.Pending a finalized agreement, Onaway will fall under regular law enforcement coverage by the county.